Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Ungulate Ecology

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Ungulate Ecology

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening.

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Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Cal Poly Partners provides excellent benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, paid sick leave/vacation and 14 holidays. Employees are eligible to participate in the CP Partners Medical Insurance Plan offered through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). Employees have different plans from which to choose including HMOs and PPOs. The coverage includes the employee, his/her dependents, or domestic partner.

The CPC covers a large portion of the medical premium for the employee and eligible dependents. All employees are members of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and will contribute to their retirement; these contributions can be refunded if the employee terminates prior to retirement. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check, educational and employment verification, and reference check, as required.

EEO/Disability/Protected Veteran Employer

Position Information

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Ungulate Ecology

Posting Number

Posting Type

Temporary

Contract End Date

06/30/2027

Salary Range

$29.69 - $38 per hour

Full Time or Part Time

Full Time

If Part Time, List Work Hours

Monday
- Friday

Position Summary Information

The Bean Lab at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo seeks a postdoctoral fellow to support multiple research projects related to ungulate spatial population ecology in California. This is a full time, one-year postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of renewal based upon satisfactory job performance and availability of funds. The primary research project will focus on the impacts of developed water sources on pronghorn and other wildlife in the Carrizo Plain using a combination of remote camera, GPS collar, and visual transect survey data.

A second project, pending additional funding, will develop new research into wildlife response to highway under-crossings in Tehachapi, CA using a combination of remote cameras and GPS collars.
The fellow will coordinate data collection with undergraduate students at Cal Poly as well as State, Federal, and non-profit partners. In collaboration with the P.I., the fellow will lead data analysis and manuscript preparation, and dissemination of results through peer-reviewed scientific publications and conference presentations.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in wildlife ecology, wildlife management, or related field
• Strong data management and analytical skills including characterizing animal movement and population estimation
• Demonstrated ability to work in teams and independently
• Ability to develop relevant field and analytical protocols pertinent to research questions
• Excellent written and oral presentation skills
• Record of timely publications
• Desire to mentor undergraduate students
• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License and satisfactory driving record
• A background check is required for all regular benefited positions
• The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in open science frameworks, including developing reproducible code
• Demonstrated expertise with integrated population models or other hierarchical models

Physical Demands

• Sitting or standing for extended periods of time
• Commuting on an as needed basis to outside meetings and field sites

Typical Essential Functions

• Coordinate data collection with students and project partners
• Perform statistical analysis and fusion of complex data sets (preferably in R or Python)
• Lead peer-reviewed publications that result from this research
• Present results at scientific conferences
• Mentor students on the project
• Perform other duties assigned

Open Date

01/07/2026

Close Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Review of Applications Begin Date

01/07/2026

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Please indicate your level of education.
  • No degree
  • HS degree or equivalent
  • Associate's degree
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Master's degree
  • PhD
• * Will you have a valid California driver's license with a driving record acceptable to our insurance underwriters at the date of hire if you are the chosen candidate?
  • Yes
  • No

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